Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1887-02-02

we have recommended, such as lime.
soda, saleratus, etc., be safe, but
| necessarily lnlurious.-ToWaR Register.
Why Tillage Should be Thorough.
With some the sole idea in cultiyat.
ing q crop is to keep down weeds. To
such, weeds are a merciful providence.
Ii it were not for the weeds. corn
would receive but little cultivation on
some farms that | know of. Extirpa-
tion OF weeds is an important item,
but it is by no means the only benefit
derived from cultivation.
We often notice that poor soil
thoroughly titled, produces a better
crop than the rich soil poorly titled.
1t matters but little how rich O. soil
may be, plants can get but little bene-
fit from it unless it is exposed to the
oxygen Of the air. Organic fertilizers
cannot enter into the composition OF
g. plant until they have become de-
composed by the oxygen of the air.
But q small portion of the cultivated
surface OF the soil can be exposed to
this action at one time Torender all
portions available the depth of soil
must be frequently stirred, and all
portions of it alternately brought to
the surface where the air can get at it.
Without frequent cultivation the rich
soil yields up but little of it's plant
food; but holds it locked up to the
detriment of the crop.
We perceive the benefit OF cultiva-
ton and exposure of the whole culti-
waited depth to the action of the air
more plainly in the summer fallow
than anywhere else. The soil in the
fallow is kept light and mellow so that
the air can get at all portions of it, if
not at once, when the frequent Guilt
walton stirs and mingles it. Plant
food is not drawn to and stored up III
the soil, as many imagine to be the
case in summer fallows. In fact quite
the opposite is the case Evapora-
ton is going on constantly where there
is no protecting growth on the surface;
and no surface could be more exposed
than the fallowed one.
The process of following simply
brings into available form the plant
food already existing in the soil. Gull
tivation as is readily seen by this,
does not in any way take the place of
manure; it rather makes call for
more manure, but / repeat that to
bring out the power and capacity of g.
soil, thorough tillage is absolutely
necessarily. D. Boynton in Prac-
teal Farmer.
Farm Notes.
Cows that have no bedding are often
injured in the knees by getting up or
down, especially if the floors be wet
and slippery.
A MUsTY cellar is death to milk or
cream, but it seems impossible to
pound it into the heads of some
people. More butter is ruined by bad
cellars and caves than from any other
cause on the farm.
The coming buttermaker, according
to the National Stockman, must have
q clean mouth and breath as well as
clean clothes and g. clean apron, be hon
est, neat, smart, level headed and able
to keep accounts.
FEED out the new corn slowly at
first, using old corn IN preference, SO
as to allow the new crop to dry and
thoroughly ripen. New corn some
times does injury to stock when fed
out too freely, and the proper mode
is to begin it's use gradually. II the
old corn is out give oats with the new
corn, with plenty OF chopped hay Or
straw.
PERMANENT pastures are looked up
on by Prof. Arnold as stumbling
block in the way of progressive dairy
ing and thing to be avoided except
under peculiar circumstances. He tells
the Farmers Advocate that perma-
nent pastures and meadows are great
institutions in the eyes of lazy and
dull men, and perhaps are as well suited
to their capacity as anything.
THE fattening value of grains de-
Ponds largely upon the free oil or fat
contained in them, with their sugar,
starch, etc. One per cent. Of oil is
considered equal to more than 2 per
cent. of sugar and starch. At these
estimates SO pounds of corn equal Is
pounds of barley, but the barley is
richer in all albuminoids, and is there
fore more valuable than corn for the
development Of flesh.
THE colt that is taken from it's dam
in the fall has hard time OF it the
first winter, all the harder for too
prevalent idea that little hardship
at this time is no detriment, causing
the animal to be tougher. On the
contrary, there is no time in q horses
life when liberal feeding is more neces-
sary Or will pay better. Oats are even
more necessary for the colt whilegrow
ing than for the old horse while work
ing or being driven.
GRAVEL serves the same purpose
with birds that teeth do with quadru-
peds. The grindingin the gizzard may
be heard by placing the ear near the
fowls when their stomachs are full and
digestion is taking place. The sound
of the gravel-stones grinding and rub
bling against the grain is especially
audible in the case of ducks that are
about half-grown, at which time they
are increasing IN size very fast, and
digestion proceeds very rapidly.
1T is impossible TO know whether
you have made profit unless &C.
counts are kept. Charge the hens
with all the food allowed and also in